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The Crest Theatre – A Church No More
posted by
davidr
on
January 19, 2005 at 7:02 am
FRESNO, CA — The Crest Theatre in downtown Fresno is currently for rent! This beautiful art deco palace sits on the Western edge of downtown near the Fulton Street Mall, which is slated for redevelopment. I am intrested in re- opening the theater as an art/foreign/indy mecca for the multiplex weary!
I would appreciate any help as to how to get this dream into development, the secrets to a successful independent theater! Especially helpful would be from those living in the Fresno area as to programming and for resoration help. For an overview on this theater check it out here on the Cinema Treasures website.
Comments (5)
One of the best sites for information on the operation of cinemas/theatres is www.BigScreenBiz.com where the FORUMS are some of the best around. It will take some reading on your part to cruise through the Archived comments there, but it is well worth it. You will find that the majority of the pros there will discourage any attempt at single screen operation for a cinema in today’s economics of exhibition. The CREST may be a special situation, and they do sell books on their front page to help in the business plan, but you should realize that operating a single screen today is seldom profitable. If you have other attractions in view, you may have a viable plan, assuming that you have deep pockets to begin with and little in the way of steep overhead costs. Best Wishes on the venture, and there are several firms that provide professional management/fund raising talent for a fee, such as:
http://www.rjha.net/mainpage.htm
and
http://www.grandevenues.com/
You might also find helpful my own little summary at:
http://www.cinematour.com/article.php?id=3
Dowser,
Jim has said it all in his above comments, wishing you every success in your endevours…. keep the site posted.
kind regards Andy Garner
Dowser,
I am a film booker specializing in art, foreign and indie films
throughout the United States. I have clients in Northern CA
and would love to help you re-create this dream. I know the CREST
THEATRE very well – was in it before it became a churh back in
the early 90’s.
I’d be happy to help you out regarding this venture.
Give me an email.
Looking Forward To Hearing From You.
Hello Dowser and Jeffrey,
I am also interested and involved with developing Fresno’s Downtown, and especially the Crest!
Dowser, your experience with the Fox will be very valuable to this project. I look forward to talking with you.
Matthew
Matt, Jeffery, and Dowser,
Looks like this post has been silent for a while. I am curious as to the status of any efforts that have been made to reopen or restore this theater. If you are still around would you mind an update? If the project is in need of an additional person let me know.
I think of the possibilites for the Crest Theater each time I attend a Grizzlies game. Glad to see that I am not the only one.